Gate.



N0. 707,43l. Patented Aug. 19, I902.

A. M. LANCE.

GATE. 7

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1902.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l-.

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Patented Aug. I9; I902. A. M. LANCE.

GATE.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1902.)

(I40 Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,431, dated August19, 1902.

Application filed March 17,1902.

To ctZZ "whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that 1, ANDREW M. LANCE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Paris, in the county of Washington and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGates, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

Thisinvention relates to gates; and the primary object thereof is toprovide a swinging support for the free front end of the gate arrangedin such manner as to relieve the post upon which the gate swings,particularly the upper portion thereof, of almost the entire weight ofthe gate, whereby the post thus relieved of the usual sagging weight ismaintained in upright position, holding the gate true and plumb at alltimes.

A further object is to so arrange the swinging support for the freeportion of the gate as to cause it to resist opening of the gate and todraw the same closed when the gate is free to swing in that direction.

Further objects are to provide improved mechanism for opening the gate,means for securing the gate in open position and for releasing the sametherefrom, and improved latch mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a gateembodying my improvements, the same being shown closed in full lines andopen in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the gate in openposition. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the gate and weight posts, andFig. 4 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 5 is a detailed view of thelatch mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the gate, and 3 the post uponwhich it swings. The bottom hinge 4 and top hinge 5 may be of anydesired form; but I prefer to construct the upper hinge with an open eye5, which embraces and bears backwardlyagainst staple 6 in post 3.Adjacent post 3, but entirely independent thereof and disconnectedtherefrom, is post 7, provided at its top with bracket 8, overhangingpost 3'and carrying pulley 9. Secured to the upper portion oi the freeend of the gate is the rope or other flexible line 10,Which extendsrearward and passes around pulley 9, from thence backward and downwardover pulley 11, where it is provided at Serial No. 98,524. (No model.)

its free end with weight 12. Pulley 11 is mounted in bracket 13,projecting from post 7. With this arrangement the upper portion ofgate-post 3 is relieved of the weight of the gate, the same beingcounterbalanced by weight 12, and hence instead of hinge 5 exerting apull on the upper end of said post in the direction of the free end ofthe gate said hinge bears backward slightly against staple 6, upon whichit turns. Thus the weight of the free portion of the gate is thrownalmost entirely upon post 7 which is entirely separate and disconnectedfrom post 3, and hence if said post '7 should sag under the weight orget out of plumbfrom other cause the gate will be unafiected thereby andwill, with post 3, retain its proper vertical position. In thisconnection it will be understood that I do not confine myself to theexact relative positions of posts 3 and 7 here shown, and it will alsobe understood that in some instances the wall of a building may take thepla'ce-of one or bothof saidposts. Theall-importantfeature of thisportion of the invention is to so sustain the free front portion of thegate from a point adjacent the hinge-post as to relieve the latter ofall tendency to sag, whereby the gate is maintained in correct positionat all times.

At one side of the roadway and preferably in line with hinge-post 3 arethe three posts 14, 15, and 16, with post 14 so arranged as to cause thegate'to open thereagainst and carrying a pivoted gravity-latch 17,adapted to automatically engage one of the gate-rails and hold the gateopen. The gate is held closed against post 18 by the vertically-swinginglatch 19, pivoted between its ends to the gate at 20, and also by meansof a supplemental lower latch 21, connected to latch 19 by link 22,whereby it moves therewith. For ordinary purposes the single latch 19suffices; but where hogs and other small animals are to be confined Iprefer to use theadditional lower latch, whereby the lower portion ofthe gate is securely held. Carried by the portion of latch 19 extendingrearward from pivot 20 is the angular lever 23, adapted to turnhorizontally thereon in keepers 24 and having its upright arm 25 bentlaterally over the gate and formed with eye 25,which embraces line 10.Also connected to line 10 are the two pullropes 26 and 27, provided attheir extremities with'handles 28. Rope 26 extends directly from line 10to post 15, and rope 27 extends from line 10 to and around pulley 29 onthe upper end of post 14 and from thence to post 16. With pull-ropesthus arranged the gate may be approached from either side, and a pullupon either rope 26 or 27 will draw line 10 laterally, causing theangular lever 25 to turn in keepers 24 and at the same time depress therear end of latch 19, raising the forward end of the latter and of thelatch 21 free of post 18. Further pull on either of the pullropes drawsthe gate to open position, where it is automatically engaged bylatch 17.After passing through the gate the same may be caused to close fromeither side by moving longitudinally the elongated rod 30, supported inslideways in posts 14, 15, and 16. This rod carries the pear-shapedenlargement 31, which when passing through recess 14 in post 14 acts asa cam in lifting latch 17 and freeing the gate, so that the latter mayclose in response to the pull of weight 12.

It will be understood that the latch mechanism, also the opening andclosing mechanism, may be modified in numerous ways without departingfrom the spirit of my invention. It will also be understood that saidimprovements may be used conjointly or severally and also that the sameor any of them may be employed in conjunction with my improvedgate-mounting, or the latter may be used alone.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of a gate, a support on which the same swings, asupplemental support adjacent to the first-mentioned support butseparate and distinct therefrom, and a turning connection between thesupplemental support and the free or swinging portion of the gate,whereby the front portion of the gate is sustained by the saidsupplemental support, and the first-mentioned support is relieved oftendency to sag.

2. The combination of a gate, a support on which the same swings, asupplemental support above the first-mentioned support and separate anddistinct therefrom, and a longitudinally-compensating, inclined, turningconnection between the supplemental support and the free or swingingportion of the gate, said supplemental support and connection sustainingthe free front portion of the gate and relieving the first-mentionedsupport of tendency to sag.

3. The combination of a gate, a support on which the same swings, asupplemental sup port adjacent to the first-mentioned support butindependent thereof, a rope movable over the supplemental support andconnected at one end to the free or swingingportion of the gate, and aweight secured to the opposite end of the rope and exerting a constantpull thereon, said weight being of sufficient size to counterbalance theforward or swinging portion of the gate and thereby relieve the supportupon which the gate swings of tendency to sag.

4. The combination of a gate, a post on which the gate swings, asupplemental post adjacent to the first-mentioned post but separate anddistinct therefrom, a pulley in said supplemental post and a secondpulley at the rear thereof, a line extending over said pulleys and atits forward end connected to the swinging portion of the gate, and aweight on the opposite end of the line.

5. The combination of a swinging gate, a support at the hinged end ofthe gate, a

weighted rope movable over the support and connected to the gate, avertically-oscillating latch on the gate, an upwardly-extending le veradapted to oscillate laterally on the latch, the upper end of said leverbeing connected to the said rope, and means for exerting lateral pull onthe rope.

6. The combination of a swinging gate including a gate-post, posts 14,15 and 16 at one side of the roadway and substantially in line with thegate-post, the gate being adapted to open against post 14, rope 26extending from the gate to post 15, rope 27 extending from the gate topost 14 and from thence to post 16, gate latch mechanism, and anoperative connection between the same and the gate ends of ropes 26 and27.

7. The combination of a swinging gate including a gate-post, post 14against which the gate opens, a gravity-latch on post14 adapted toautomatically engage the gate and hold it open, longitudinallymovablerod 30, and a cam device on said rod adapted to be moved thereby beneathand elevate the gravity-latch.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW M. LANCE. Witnesses:

H. M. ORIswELL, H. L. (JRIswELL.

